To go to water

Posted by Victoria S Dennis May 17, 2008 at 11:12In reply to To go to water posted by Matthew F on May 17, 2008 at 08:49:

"To go to water".
I've heard this phrase used in the context of a person or group giving up under threat or pressure, similar to "go to ground", but do not know its exact meaning or origin. Does anyone know more?

An animal being hunted by predators can often escape by jumping into a river or lake and swimming to safety; perhaps that's the meaning? It's not an old phase, unlike "go to ground", but it's a reasonable analogy with it. (VSD)